McCarter AR, Theiler RN, Rivera-Chiauzzi EY. Circumferential shoulder laceration after posterior axilla sling traction: a case report of severe shoulder dystocia.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021;
21:45. [PMID:
33430794 PMCID:
PMC7802353 DOI:
10.1186/s12884-020-03526-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Shoulder dystocia is an unpredictable and potentially catastrophic complication of vertex vaginal delivery. Posterior axilla sling traction (PAST) has recently been proposed as a method to resolve severe shoulder dystocia when commonly used techniques have failed.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 33-year-old woman (gravida 5, para 0) at 35 weeks, 1 day gestation underwent induction of labor for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Delivery of the large-for-gestational-age infant (4,060 g) was complicated by intractable shoulder dystocia, relieved at 3 minutes with PAST, resulting in a deep, circumferential laceration of the fetal posterior shoulder and contralateral phrenic nerve palsy.
CONCLUSIONS
PAST provides a potentially lifesaving option during intractable shoulder dystocia. Simulation or education about the technique facilitates its use when standard maneuvers fail. It is important to disseminate information about potential complications associated with these novel maneuvers.
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